Young couple fosters a loving home

WHEN Brian and Amanda Nothdurft found out they couldn't have a baby, they decided to make the dreams of three children come true and became foster parents.

But three turned into four and four turned into six, before the couple was blessed with a child of their own.

Mr and Mrs Nothdurft have lived in Warwick for seven years and in the past four and a half years, have cared for about 30 foster children, permanents and respite.

"It is so rewarding, and you grow as a person so much," Mrs Nothdurft said.

"I can now understand why people have big families."

The Nothdurfts at present have seven children in their care, ranging from one year old to 12, and wouldn't have it any other way.

"There are a lot of issues that come with these children that you perhaps wouldn't normally deal with," Mrs Nothdurft said.

But she said the rewards were priceless.

"One of our boys came in diagnosed with autism. He was suspended from school, had several violent issues and just through providing a loving home, he is not violent, doesn't need any medication and is just a normal boy," she said.

"The pediatrician even said 'I can't believe it's the same boy'."

Mr Nothdurft urged anyone considering fostering a child to do it.

"Definitely do it - they need good carers," he said.

The love flowing through the family was unmistakable.

"We love them all as our own and they know they are loved and they love us in return," Mrs Nothdurft said.

She said being a foster parent was sometimes not easy, but the positives outweighed the challenges twofold.